Famous Directors Who Did One Musical

From the lights of Broadway to the glitter of Tinseltown, which famous Hollywood directors helmed only one film version of a stage musical? Pull up a director’s chair, don a baseball cap and let’s see.

CLINT EASTWOOD ('Jersey Boys')

The squinty-eyed macho actor turned director has won Oscars for helming 'Million Dollar Baby' and 'Unforgiven.' This month, he’ll bring the movie version of Broadway’s 'Jersey Boys' to a theater near you.

JOEL SCHUMACHER ('Phantom of the Opera')

The director of two Batman movies may have seemed like an unlikely choice for 'Phantom of the Opera.' But why? Both Batman and the Phantom wore masks, right?

BILL CONDON ('Dreamgirls')

He directed the dreamy Robert Pattinson in two of the 'Twilight' films, but before that, he helmed the award-winning film adaptation of 'Dreamgirls.'

RANDAL KLEISER ('Grease')

Randal Kleiser’s first feature, 'Grease,' is the most successful movie musical ever made. In taking this staged musical to the big screen, Kleiser hit greased lightning.

SUSAN STROMAN ('The Producers')

The five-time Tony award-winning director/choreographer was recently awarded the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award by New Dramatists. One of those achievements was bringing 'The Producers' from stage to screen in 2005.

PHYLLIDA LLOYD ('Mamma Mia!')

This award-winning British theatre director, known for her work in opera, directed Meryl Streep to an Oscar in 'The Iron Lady,' and before that in the hit film version of 'Mamma Mia!'

TOM HOOPER ('Les Miserables')

With 'Les Mis,' this British-born director got Russell Crowe to sing! He showed us a softer (and skinnier) side of Hugh Jackman! And he convinced Anne Hathaway to chop her locks, which were never to return again.

ROB MARSHALL ('Chicago')

Known mostly for directing 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' and 'Memoirs of a Geisha,' Marshall brought 'Chicago' to Oscar victory on the big screen. He has a second musical in the works, 'Into the Woods,' slated to come out at Christmas.

ADRIAN LYNE ('Flashdance')

Okay, so this '80s movie directed by Adrian Lyne wasn’t technically a musical…but it was a hit movie with a huge soundtrack that paved the way for 'Flashdance the Musical,' which is on tour now.

FRANK PIERSON ('A Star is Born')

Pierson was an Oscar-winning screenwriter and director who co-wrote and helmed the 1976 rock musical 'A Star is Born,' which starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.

MILOS FORMAN ('Hair')

Forman let the sun shine in when he directed the movie version of 'Hair,' bringing the Age of Aquarius to the cineplex.

RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH ('A Chorus Line')

Richard Attenborough, the award-winning director of 'Gandhi' and 'Cry Freedom,' brought 'A Chorus Line,' winner of nine Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize, to the cinema where it won Golden Globes for best picture and best director.